
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Antidiuretic effect
Introduction
An antidiuretic is an agent or drug that, administered to an organism, helps control body water balance through its effects on the urine output and kidneys. See diuretic. An example would be Vasopressin, a hormone which occurs naturally in the body, its primary function being an antidiuretic. It is secreted from the posterior pituitary gland.
Antidiuretics are the drugs that reduce urine volume, particularly in diabetes insipidus (DI) which is their primary indication. These are classified as:
- Antidiuretic hormones: ADH, Vasopressin, Desmopressin, Lypressin, Terlipressin
- Thiazide diuretics: Amiloride
- Miscellaneous: Chlorpropamide, Carbamazepine
External links
- Antidiuretic+Agents at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
